Madrid’s Best Cocktail Bars
NOTE: Updated on November 10, 2023
Craft cocktails aren’t as popular in Spain as in some other countries. Many Spaniards have historically stuck to beer, wine, or the (very popular and very large) gin and tonics that dominate evenings and weekends all over the country. Madrid by contrast has developed a strong cocktail scene in recent years and has a number of highly regarded specialty bars. Here are some of the most essential stops for any cocktail enthusiast traveling to Madrid.
1. Salmon Guru
Salmon Guru opened in 2016 under the leadership of experienced Argentinean bartender Diego Cabrera, and has quickly made a name for itself, being ranked as one of The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2018. The bar serves exquisite craft cocktails, often in surprising custom-made vessels. The design features neon lightning bolts and comic book inspired BAM! signs. A definite must for any cocktail enthusiast in the Spanish capital.
2. Viva Madrid
Not satisfied to have only one excellent cocktail bar, Diego Cabrera decided in 2018 to revitalize a true Madrid classic. Viva Madrid was founded in 1856 as a tavern, and was a popular nightlife destination during Madrid’s movida in the 1980s. The decor has been left untouched, with tiles covering the outside and an interior more at home in the 19th century than the 21st. The cocktails are focused on classics, in contrast to nearby Salmon Guru, with a mission to serve forgotten greats and resurrect forgotten recipes.
3. Bar Cock
Bar Cock, despite the name, is a relaxed and classic cocktail bar founded in 1921. Originally popular with literary types, in the last few decades Bar Cock has been associated with numerous celebrities, from Pedro Almodóvar and George Clooney to the Spanish royal family. Walking through the doors will make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time, with an interior of dark wood and leather. Located just off the Gran Vía, this is a perfect place to leave the rush of Madrid behind for a while.
4. Angelita Madrid
Angelita Madrid is best known as an excellent tapas & wine bar located just behind Madrid’s Gran Vía. There is also a top-tier cocktail bar, the American Bar, in the basement that specializes in cocktails using wine and products from the tiny herb garden located inside the bar. At the tables downstairs, it is possible to order wine from the extensive wine list, as well as food from a lighter menu.
5. Savas Bar
A new and welcome addition to Madrid’s cocktail scene, Savas Bar is not a place you’re likely to find by chance. A tiny space deep in the diverse Lavapies district has been reborn from neighborhood beer joint to cult cocktail bar. The proprietors are a couple from Lithuania who worked at some of the city’s most elite restaurants before opening a bar that is the opposite of pretentious. The short list of drinks changes with their whims, but tends towards classic cocktails with a twist. White tile walls, exposed pipes, a marble bar and a few small tables are the setting for great drinks.
6. LobByto Bar
The Gran Hotel Inglés is one of Madrid’s premier luxury hotels. Its location is perhaps unlikely, in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras on a small street away from the grand avenues of the city. Step through the discreet doors and you’ll find yourself in one of the city’s coolest and most discreet bars, LobByto. Settle into one of the comfortable couches or sit down at the bar to enjoy a galaxy of creative cocktails. From eternal classics to novel creations, the bartenders here know how to pour them. Don’t miss the sherry cocktails in homage to La Venencia, the venerable sherry bar located just across the street.
7. Del Diego
If you need a bolthole in downtown Madrid, Del Diego is your place. Frosted glass and half a floor of stairs lead to a high-ceilinged bar that could be right out of 1980s midtown Manhattan. Wood floors, diffuse light, a bar with curb appeal, and low-slung cocktail tables ringed with comfortable chairs. The dapper bartenders, the sons of founder Fernando, are discreet and perceptive. The neat shelves of bottles framing the bar give the brothers everything they need. Pick from a drinks list long on classics with some smart originals, or order a drink made your way. The dangerous gimlet may be the best in Madrid, but there are no misses here. The privacy of Del Diego attracts savvy locals and visitors, including more than a few famous names. Be careful, because once you sit down you may be there awhile.
8. Pictura
A world-class luxury hotel should have a great cocktail bar, and Mandarin Oriental’s pricey redo of the Hotel Ritz has brought Madrid a new benchmark bar: Pictura. The Hotel Ritz helped give Madrid its classic cocktail scene a century ago, so it’s no surprise that Pictura feels timeless. Jacketed bartenders with sharp eyes and fast hands work their magic beneath chandeliers. The bar is decorated with portraits of modern figures in the style of classic Spanish paintings, a nod to the Prado Museum just across the street. The bartenders will happily stir or shake up perfect versions of every drink you know, but 21st-century cocktails are also on the menu. Star chef Quique Dacosta runs the food at the hotel, so there are modern creative drinks that even pair with tapas. You can enjoy your drinks in the bar area or head out to the garden terrace, a quiet luxury in the center of Spain’s largest city.